Modular lens system for motion picture camera applications

ABSTRACT

A modular lens system for use with a camera system and connected therewith. The lens system including modular sections configured to include one or more lenses and/or an aperture. The one or more lenses are controlled by one or more motors to enhance focus, softness, and/or size and other optical characteristics.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/967,039 filed Dec. 11, 2015, which claims the benefit ofU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/090,622 filed Dec. 11, 2014,which applications are hereby incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to systems, apparatuses, and methods formodular lens systems.

BACKGROUND

Traditional lens systems include mechanical controls that operate aseries of gears, helicals, cams or the like to vary focus, zoom, orother optical properties of the lens system. It may be difficult tointerchange components of the lens system due to the mechanicaltransport existing between various components of the system.

In addition, prior mechanical systems may lack the ability to correctlyadjust image softness and other optical properties, due to the varietyand complexity of components existing in the lens system.

SUMMARY

The systems, apparatuses, and methods disclosed herein are intended toprovide for improved interchangeability of lens system components, andimproved electronic control of optical features such as focus, imagesoftness, and aperture size. The systems, apparatuses, and methodsdisclosed herein may serve to improve the utility of lens inventory fora user or supplier, thereby reducing costs.

In one embodiment, a modular lens system comprises a front sectionincluding one or more lenses, a central section configured to beremovably coupled to the front section and including one or more lensesand an aperture, and one or more motors configured to move the one ormore lenses of the central section to effect a change in a focus,magnification, or a softness of an image produced by the central sectionbased on a user input, or to move the aperture to effect a change in asize of the aperture based on a user input.

In one embodiment, a modular lens system comprises a lens moduleincluding one or more lenses and an aperture, and configured to beremovably coupled to a camera including an imaging area, and one or moremotors configured to move the one or more lenses of the lens module toeffect a change in a focus, magnification, or a softness or a positionof an image produced by the lens module based on a user input, or toalter the size of the aperture to effect a change in an intensity of theimage based on a user input.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and advantages of the systems, apparatuses, and methods asdisclosed herein will become appreciated as the same become betterunderstood with reference to the specification, claims, and appendeddrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a system according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic view of a system according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic view of a system according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic view of a system according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic view of a system according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic view of a portion of a system accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of a portion of a system according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a camera system 10 including acamera 12 and a lens system 14. The camera 12 may be a digital cameraincluding an image sensor 16. The image sensor 16 may be sized toproduce an image equivalent to the size of a 65 mm film image, or in oneembodiment may be sized to produce an image equivalent to the size of a35 mm film image. The image sensor 16 may comprise an imaging area forreceiving images from the lens system 14. In one embodiment, the camera12 may be a film camera including an imaging area for receiving imagesfrom the lens system 14 on film.

The lens system 14 may include a front section 18, a central section 20,and a rear section 22. The central section 20 may be configured as amodule, or as a self-contained unit that is removable from othercomponents of the camera system 10. The central section 20 may include ahousing 24 that may form the exterior of the central section 20, and mayretain components of the central section 20. The central section 20 mayinclude one or more lenses 26 configured to vary a focus of an imagethat is imaged by the central section 20. In one embodiment, the one ormore lenses 26 may be configured to vary other optical properties of theimage, including a softness of the image, a size of the image, tocorrect for blur or aberrations in the image, or other opticalproperties as desired. The one or more lenses 26 may be positionedwithin the central section 20. The one or more lenses 26 may bespherical or aspherical lenses if desired.

The central section 20 may include an aperture 27 configured to controlthe amount of light that passes through the central section 20. Theaperture 27 may be positioned within the central section 20, and may bepositioned arbitrarily with respect to the functionality of the centrallens module in line along the optical axis that the one or more lenses26 are positioned on.

One or more motors 28 may be used to move the one or more lenses 26 ofthe central section to effect a change in a focus of an image producedby the central section 20. The one or more motors 28 may be positionedexterior to the central section 20, or in one embodiment, any one, orall of the motors 28 may be positioned within the central section 20.The motors may comprise a powered device configured to effect motion inthe one or more lenses 26, any may include a linear actuator, a steppermotor, a piezoelectric motor, a solid state motor, or other form ofmotor for providing powered movement of the one or more lenses 26.

The operation of the one or more motors 28 may be based on a user input.The adjusting user input may be based on a user's operation of amechanical device such as a rotatable ring 30 or bezel positioned on theexterior of the housing 24. In other embodiments, otherelectro-mechanical or opto-mechanical devices such as a switch, slide,position encoder or lever may be used to control the one or more motors28. In one embodiment, the one or more motors 28 may be controlled basedon a signal from a remote device such as a computer, or other electronicdevice. The central section 20 may include an input for receivingsignals from the remote device.

The central section 20 may include rails 32 that the one or more lenses26 of the central section move along. The one or more lenses 26 may movelinearly along the optical axis in response to operation of the one ormore motors 28, as noted in the encircled area in FIG. 1. The centersection 20 may include a gimbal or other off-axis positioning device toprovide other degrees of motion for one or more lenses 26.

The central section 20 may include an indicator 34 that may indicate aproperty of the central section 20 and/or the one or more lenses 26. Theproperty may be a focus of the one or more lenses 26, a size of theaperture 27, magnification of the image, a measure of softness of animage produced by the one or more lenses 26, combinations thereof, orany other property of the central section 20 and/or one or more lenses26. In one embodiment, the indicator 34 may be a digital indicator thatproduces an image or other indicator on a screen or the like. In oneembodiment, lens control and state may be indicated by an electroniclens interface.

In one embodiment, the one or more motors 28 may operate to move the oneor more lenses 26 of the central section 20 to effect a change in asoftness of an image produced by the central section 20. The centralsection 20 may be configured to produce a gentler roll-off from a pointof focus to enhance a softness of the image focus or create a zone ofdefocus that is not co-planar with the image surface. The softness ofthe image may be configured to be independent or within the limits of anaperture range. The softness may be controlled by linear or rotationalmovement of the one or more lenses 26. In one embodiment, the one ormore motors 28 may operate to move the one or more lenses 26 of thecentral section 20 to effect a change in a size of the aperture 27 ofthe central portion. In one embodiment, other optical features of thecentral section 20 may be adjusted by the one or more motors 28,including any combination of features discussed herein.

A microcontroller 36 may be utilized to operate any of the functions ofthe central section 20, including operation of the one or more motors28. The microcontroller 36 may operate based on software 38 that may bestored in a memory 40. In one embodiment, the software may be integratedinto the electrical structure of components of the central section 20.The software may comprise internal firmware for the system. Themicrocontroller 36 may be configured to process the user input andactuate the motors according to the user input with a control signal. Assuch, the lens system 14 may operate electronically. In one embodiment,the microcontroller 36 and software 38, and memory 40 may be positionedwithin the central section 20. A power source 42 may be used to powerany functions of the central section 20, including operation of the oneor more motors 28. In one embodiment, the power source 42 may comprise abattery. The power source 42 may be positioned external to the centralsection 20, or may be positioned within the central section 20. In anembodiment in which the power source 42 is external, an electricalconduit may transfer the power to the central section 20.

The central section 20 and its related components beneficially allow auser to perform motorized operation of the optical features of thecentral section 20. This presents an improvement over prior directmechanical control of optical features presented in prior lens systemsby providing electronic control and actuation of the lenses andaperture. The motorized operation allows for more precise control, andreduces the complexity provided with prior mechanical transport systems.Additional benefits include low power operation, compact lens geometry,temperature stability and closer focus than typically possible withconventional cameras.

The central section 20 beneficially enhances the modular nature of thelens system 14, by being removable from other components of the camerasystem 10. A user or supplier may easily interchange the central section20 into different camera systems as desired, based on the modular natureof the central section 20.

The front section 18 may be configured as a module, or as aself-contained unit that is removable from other components of thecamera system 10. The front section 18 may include a housing 44 that mayform the exterior of the front section 18, and may retain components ofthe front section 18. The front section 18 may include one or morelenses 46 configured to vary a property of an image that is viewed bythe front section 18. One or more motors 28 may be used to move the oneor more lenses 46 of the front section to effect a change in its opticalproperties. In one embodiment, the one or more lenses 46 may comprise alens group for varying a magnification of an image. In one embodiment,the one or more lenses 46 may comprise an anamorphic lens for varyingthe magnification of an image in either a horizontal or verticaldirection, with the amount of variation in size given by a squeezeratio, or a ratio of the size of the original image in the powereddirection to the size of the resultant image in the powered direction.

The front section may include rails radial or linear 48 that the one ormore lenses 46 of the front section may move along. The rails 48 may beconfigured similarly as the rails 32 discussed in regard to the centralportion 20.

The front section 18 may be configured to be removably coupled to thecentral section 20. Either the front section 18 and/or the centralsection 20 may include coupler that is configured to couple the frontsection 18 to the central section 20. In one embodiment, an electricalconduit, which may be integrated in the coupler may be used to transmita signal to and/or from the microcontroller 36 of the central section 20such that the microcontroller 36 determines when the front section 18 iscoupled to the central section 20. The microcontroller 36 accordinglymay be configured to determine a property of the front section 18,including whether or not the front section 18 is present, the make ormodel of the front section 18, the type of lenses 46 contained withinthe front section 18, a manner of operation of the lenses 46 of thefront section 18, or other properties of the front section 18. In oneembodiment, the microcontroller 46 may be configured to determine aproperty of the front section 18 through alternative means, for example,a particular form of mechanical contact between the front section 18 andcentral section 20 may indicate a property of the front section 18.

In one embodiment, the one or more lenses 46 of the front section 18, oran optical feature of the front section 18, may be controlled by the oneor more motors 28 discussed in regard to the central section 20. In oneembodiment, an electrical conduit may transfer control from themicrocontroller 36 to the motors 28 within the front section 18 to itsone or more lenses 46. As such, a user may provide input to the centralsection 20 that is used to operate the front section 18. In oneembodiment, a separate set of motors 28 may operate the front section18. The motors may be configured to operate a location or angle of thelenses 46 for example by moving the lenses 46 linearly or rotationally,or may be configured to rotate or otherwise move anamorphic lenses tovary a squeeze ratio of the lenses or compensate for a change in objectdistance 46. In one embodiment, at least three motors may be positionedin the central section 20 for operating the lenses therein. In oneembodiment, at least one motor may be positioned in the front section 18for operating the lenses therein. In one embodiment, the lens system mayutilize at least four motors.

In one embodiment, the motors that operate the front section 18 may beoperated by the microcontroller 36 based on electrical signals which maybe sent through electrical conduits connecting the front section 20 andcentral section 20. The microcontroller 36 may be configured to operatethe front section 18 based on the property of the front section 18 thatis determined by the microcontroller. For example, if themicrocontroller 36 determines that the front section 18 comprises aparticular type of anamorphic lens, then the microcontroller 36 mayutilize software designed to control the particular type of anamorphiclens. The types of components of the system 14 may be preprogrammed as apart of the software. This system beneficially allows varying types offront sections 18 to be utilized with a central section 20, yet themicrocontroller 36 remains able to operate both front and centralsections. The mechanical complexity of interchanging different types offront sections 18 with central sections 20 may accordingly be reduced.In one embodiment, the microcontroller may be configured to operate thefocus and/or aperture and/or other optical features of the centralsection 20 differently depending on the type of front section 18utilized. In one embodiment, the front section and rear section may eachinclude registration points for relying information to themicrocontroller regarding the type of front or rear section used. Themicrocontroller may select a matching programmed software used tooperate the lens system based on the type of front section and rearsection used. The microcontroller may provide unique output signals tothe motors of the front section, central section, and rear section basedon the programming software.

The rear section 22 may be configured as a module, or as aself-contained unit that is removable from other components of thecamera system 10. The rear section 22 may include a housing 50 that mayform the exterior of the rear section 22, and may retain components ofthe rear section 22. The rear section 22 may include one or more lenses52 configured to vary a property of an image that is viewed by the rearsection 22. In one embodiment, the lenses 52 may comprise a scalar thatis configured to vary a size of an image for imaging in an imaging areaof the camera 12. The scalar may be configured to scale an image to a 35to 43 mm sensor target, for example in an embodiment in which the otheroptical components of the lens system are designed to produce a 65 mmformat image, and a 35 mm resulting format image is desired.Additionally, the rear section may be formatted as a anamorphic groupthat integrates both spherical and cylindrical components. Theanamorphic group produces a disproportionate magnification from thepowered axis and the non-powered axis. This may effectuate analternative means of creating an anamorphic modular lens of theresulting central and rear modules.

The rear section 22 may include rails 54 that the one or more lenses 52of the rear section may move along. The rails 54 may be configuredsimilarly as the rails 32 discussed in regard to the central portion 20.The rear section 22 may be coupled to the central section 20 in asimilar manner as the front section 18 is described to be coupled to thecentral section 20. The one or more lenses 52 of the rear section 22 mayoperate in a similar manner as the lenses 46 of the front section 18.For example, separate motors, or the microcontroller 36 may be used tooperate the lenses 46.

The configuration of the lens system 14 may beneficially allow thevarious sections of the lens system 14 to be interchanged, andcontrolled electrically, such that mechanical transport structuresbetween the sections are reduced. As such, a user or supplier mayenhance the ease in which components are interchanged, to reduce overallinventory of camera systems, and to provide enhanced customization forend users. For example, a particular filter, or plug in filter, used bya film maker may remain in a camera system throughout a day of filming,yet other components of the lens system may be easily interchanged andoperable. The film maker may be able to retain the overall look of thefilm, yet interchange other components used for filming.

The front section 18, central section 20, and rear section 22 may beremoved or modified as desired. FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of alens system in which the optical components of the rear section 22′ havebeen excluded. Such a feature may be preferable in an embodiment inwhich a 65 mm format image sensor 16 is used, and no scaling by the rearsection is required. In embodiments of the application, the frontsection 18 and central section 20 may be configured to produce a largeformat 65 mm image.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a lens system in which the opticalcomponents of the rear section 22′ have been excluded, as well as theoptical components of the front section 18′. Such a feature may bepreferable in an embodiment in which no anamorphic effect is desiredfrom the front section 18′. The central section 20 may produce an imagebased on the spherical configuration of the one or more lenses therein.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a lens system in which a 35 mm imagesensor 16′ is utilized. The optical components of the rear section 22′may scale the image to be appropriate for imaging on the 35 mm sensor.In this embodiment, the optical components of the front section 18 andcentral section 20 may be configured to produce an image scaled forimaging on a 65 mm sensor.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a lens system in which a 35 mm imagesensor 16′ is utilized, and the optical components of the front section18′ have been excluded. In this embodiment, no anamorphic effect isdesired from the front section 18′, and the central section 20 mayproduce an image based on the spherical configuration of the one or morelenses therein. The rear section 22 may operate as a sphericalcompressor that operates without an anamorphic image.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a central portion 20 according to anembodiment of the disclosure. A coupler 56 may be positioned at the endof the housing for connection to components of the lens system. Thehousing of the central portion 20 may include a slot 58 for receiving atag 60 indicating the type of central portion 20 that is utilized in thelens system.

FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a central portion 20according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

The embodiments of lens systems discussed herein may be utilized forvarious aspect ratios and squeeze ratios. Embodiments include, but arenot limited to a 1.29× squeeze ratio converting a 2.20 base aspect ratioto a 2.76 final aspect ratio, a 1.29× squeeze ratio converting a 1.86base aspect ratio to a 2.40 final aspect ratio, a 1.8× squeeze ratioconverting a 1.33 base aspect ratio to a 2.40 final aspect ratio, a 1.8×squeeze ratio converting a 1.5 base aspect ratio to a 2.76 final aspectratio, a 2× squeeze ratio converting a 1.2 base aspect ratio to a 2.4final aspect ratio, a 2× squeeze ratio converting a 1.37 base aspectratio to a 2.75 final aspect ratio, a 1.6× squeeze ratio converting a1.5 base aspect ratio to a 2.4 final aspect ratio, among others. In oneembodiment, a Vista, 65 mm, or 35 mm image sensor, or other digitalsensors, or film may be used as desired.

In closing, it is to be understood that although aspects of the presentspecification are highlighted by referring to specific embodiments, oneskilled in the art will readily appreciate that these disclosedembodiments are only illustrative of the principles of the subjectmatter disclosed herein. Therefore, it should be understood that thedisclosed subject matter is in no way limited to a particularmethodology, protocol, and/or reagent, etc., described herein. As such,various modifications or changes to or alternative configurations of thedisclosed subject matter can be made in accordance with the teachingsherein without departing from the spirit of the present specification.Lastly, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describingparticular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope ofsystems, apparatuses, and methods as disclosed herein, which is definedsolely by the claims. Accordingly, the systems, apparatuses, and methodsare not limited to that precisely as shown and described.

Certain embodiments of systems, apparatuses, and methods are describedherein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying outthe same. Of course, variations on these described embodiments willbecome apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading theforegoing description. The inventor expects skilled artisans to employsuch variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for thesystems, apparatuses, and methods to be practiced otherwise thanspecifically described herein. Accordingly, the systems, apparatuses,and methods include all modifications and equivalents of the subjectmatter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicablelaw. Moreover, any combination of the above-described embodiments in allpossible variations thereof is encompassed by the systems, apparatuses,and methods unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearlycontradicted by context.

Groupings of alternative embodiments, elements, or steps of the systems,apparatuses, and methods are not to be construed as limitations. Eachgroup member may be referred to and claimed individually or in anycombination with other group members disclosed herein. It is anticipatedthat one or more members of a group may be included in, or deleted from,a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any suchinclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is deemed to contain thegroup as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all Markushgroups used in the appended claims.

Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing a characteristic,item, quantity, parameter, property, term, and so forth used in thepresent specification and claims are to be understood as being modifiedin all instances by the term “about.” As used herein, the term “about”means that the characteristic, item, quantity, parameter, property, orterm so qualified encompasses an approximation that may vary. The terms“approximate[ly]” and “substantial[ly]” represent an amount that mayvary from the stated amount, yet is capable of performing the desiredoperation or process discussed herein.

The terms “a,” “an,” “the” and similar referents used in the context ofdescribing the systems, apparatuses, and methods (especially in thecontext of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both thesingular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearlycontradicted by context. All methods described herein can be performedin any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwiseclearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, orexemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein is intended merelyto better illuminate the systems, apparatuses, and methods and does notpose a limitation on the scope of the systems, apparatuses, and methodsotherwise claimed. No language in the present specification should beconstrued as indicating any non-claimed element essential to thepractice of the systems, apparatuses, and methods.

All patents, patent publications, and other publications referenced andidentified in the present specification are individually and expresslyincorporated herein by reference in their entirety for the purpose ofdescribing and disclosing, for example, the compositions andmethodologies described in such publications that might be used inconnection with the systems, apparatuses, and methods. Thesepublications are provided solely for their disclosure prior to thefiling date of the present application. Nothing in this regard should beconstrued as an admission that the inventors are not entitled toantedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention or for any otherreason. All statements as to the date or representation as to thecontents of these documents is based on the information available to theapplicants and does not constitute any admission as to the correctnessof the dates or contents of these documents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for providing a modular lens system foruse with a camera, the method comprising the steps of: attaching amodular lens system to a camera, wherein the modular lens systemcomprises: a front section including one or more lenses; a centralsection removably coupled at a first end to the front section, whereinthe step of attaching comprises connecting a second end of the centralsection to the camera, the central section comprising one or morelenses; and adjusting one or more of the lenses of the modular lenssystem by user input to a controller disposed in the modular lens systemthat provides an output signal to cause the adjusting, wherein thecontroller operates independent of the camera and does not receive anycontrol signal from any controller or computer in the camera.
 2. Themethod as recited in claim 1 wherein one of the front section or thecentral section includes an aperture, and wherein the method furtherincludes adjusting the aperture by user input to the controller and anoutput signal from the controller.
 3. The method as recited in claim 1wherein during the step of adjusting, the output signal is provided toone or more motors disposed in the modular lens system, wherein the oneor more motors are operatively connected to one or more of the lenses inthe front section or central section.
 4. The method as recited in claim1 wherein during the step of adjusting, one or more of the lenses aremoved to effect a change in a focus or a softness, magnification, or azonal position of an image.
 5. The method as recited in claim 1 whereinthe second section includes a user interface element for receiving theuser input, and wherein the controller is attached with the centralsection.
 6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein during the step ofadjusting, a control signal from the controller is directed to one ormore motors in the first section to move the one or more lenses disposedin the first section, or a control signal from the controller isdirected to one or more motors in the central section to move the one ormore lenses disposed in the central section.
 7. The method as recited inclaim 1 wherein during the step of adjusting, software in the controlleris used to provide the output signal in response to the user input. 8.The method as recited in claim 1 wherein during the step of attaching, arear section is removably coupled to the central section and interposedbetween the central section and the camera, the rear section including ascalar for varying a magnification of an image received from the centralsection.
 9. A method for combining and using a modular lens system witha camera, the method comprising: attaching a modular lens systemcomprising a front section and a center section with a camera, whereinone or both of the front section and center section includes one or morelenses disposed therein, and wherein the center section is interposedbetween the front section and the camera; and changing one or moreoptical features provide by the first section or second section by userinput to a processor in the modular lens system, wherein the processorprovides an output signal to change the one or more optical features,wherein the processor is attached with one of the first or secondsection, and wherein the other of the first or second section is free ofa processor, and wherein the modular lens system does not receive acontrol signal from any processor in the camera.
 10. The method asrecited in claim 9 wherein during the step of changing, the outputsignal causes one or more of the one or more lenses to be moved.
 11. Themethod as recited in claim 9 wherein during the step of changing, theoutput signal is directed to one or more motors disposed in the firstsection or the central section, wherein the one or more motors isconnected with the one or more lenses to be moved.
 12. The method asrecited in claim 9 wherein the modular lens system includes an aperturethat is movable by user input.
 13. The method as recited in claim 12,further comprising the step of moving the aperture by an output signalfrom the processor.
 14. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein duringthe step of changing, the user input is provided by a user input elementthat is part of or remote from the modular lens system, and that isremote from the camera.
 15. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein themodular lens system comprises a rear section, and wherein during thestep of attaching, the rear section is interposed between the camera andthe central section, wherein the rear section includes a scaler forvarying a magnification of an image provided from the central section.16. A modular lens system for use with a camera, the modular lens systemcomprising: a front section and a center section operatively coupledtogether, wherein one or both of the front section and center sectionincludes lenses, and wherein one end of the center section is configuredfor connection with a camera; and a processor for changing one or moreoptical features of the modular lens system, wherein the processor ispart of the modular lens system and receives user input, wherein themodular lens system does not receive any control signal from anyprocessor in the camera.
 17. The modular lens system as recited in claim16 comprising one or more motors that are operatively connected with theone or more lenses, wherein the one or more motors receive an operatingsignal from the processor.
 18. The modular lens system as recited inclaim 16 comprising an aperture and a motor for changing an opticalfeature of the aperture.
 19. The modular lens system as recited in claim16 wherein the processor is part of the center section, and user inputto the processor is provided by a user interface element.